Building an attractive yet aerodynamically efficient body around such
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| A modern, sporty shell with big, flared wheel arches actually makes the Outlook smaller than its dimensions suggest. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
a capacious cabin can be tricky. Based on the photos provided by GM, it appears success has been achieved. Most prominent throughout the Outlook's exterior sheet metal is the new face of Saturn, which was first applied to the Sky, cousin to Pontiac's two-seat Solstice sports roadster. The new image is more angular than rounded, highlighted with well-defined creases and a broad, horizontal band of chrome capping the grille. This theme, combined with the Outlook's wrap-around rear glass, results in a look that is fresh, bold and symmetrical. In short, I think it sets a new benchmark for the others to work toward, particularly the Pacifica. The interior architecture of the Outlook appears modeled around the cabin found in GM's new GMT900 products, such as the 2007 Yukon and Tahoe - and that is a very good thing.
Rather
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| Outlook's interior is far more luxurious than previous Saturns, featuring optional leather trim and navigation system. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
than sporting some sort of archaic truck-like dashboard and instrument panel, the Outlook is fitted with a low-sitting design that looks so good it could have been lifted from a newer Cadillac product. The setup features a smoothly-finished centre stack flowing into a substantial centre console, which houses the shift lever and two large cupholders before merging with a secondary storage bin and a larger, under-armrest storage bin. In the accompanying photos, simulated wood trim adds a touch of elegance to the two-tone interior. Of course all the looks in the world can be for not if similarly matched driving pleasure isn't delivered. Although only speculative at this point, judging from GM's literature, driving dynamics should live up to expectations.
A car-like ride is a basic tenet of crossover vehicles, and GM will utilize
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| Outlook is powered by an efficient 267-horsepower 3.6-litre engine in XR trim. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
a fully independent coil spring arrangement to provide the Outlook with just that. The engineers will also use antilock-enhanced discs at all four corners to ensure strong braking performance complements the comfortable ride. But the heart of any new vehicle is its drivetrain, and here GM plans to lead the way with a potent, highly refined, aluminum V6 engine mated to a 6-speed autobox.
The engine is GM's latest and most technologically advanced V6 unit. It displaces 3.6 litres (217 cu in) and generates 267 horsepower and 247 foot-pounds of torque when equipped with dual exhaust in the upscale XR model. Without the benefit of twin pipes, the sophisticated powerplant puts out a respectable 265 horsepower and 244 foot-pounds of torque. This is the same V6 engine used in several Cadillac products of late. The honey-smooth DOHC mill features 4-valves per cylinder and variable valve timing to ensure linear torque delivery across the rev band. The engine is also designed to dispatch smooth, quiet performance and long life expectancy.
The
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| Outlook's interior is detailed with nice touches such as wood trim and soft-touch two-tone plastics. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
electronically controlled 6-speed GM Hydra-Matic transmission backing the Outlook's powerplant achieves improved fuel economy and performance over more traditional 4-speed autoboxes often found in FWD and AWD vehicles (the Pacifica only has a 4-speed automatic, for instance); in fact GM claims an 8 percent improvement in performance and a 4 percent fuel economy improvement. Over the lifetime of a vehicle, a 4 percent increase in fuel economy is significant. Aiding in the Outlook's estimated fuel economy of 13.8 litres and 9.4 litres highway per 100 kilometres is a very low coefficient of drag of just 0.361. The combined city/highway rating is 10.0 litres per 100 kilometres for the FWD Outlook and 10.5 L/100 km for the AWD version. These are decent ratings for a full-size, 8-occupant vehicle, and appear significantly better than the Pacifica and at least on par with the Freestyle fuel-economy outcomes (FWD Freestyle EPA rating is 11.8 city and 8.7 highway, so it's slightly better - Ed.), which is surprising given the Outlook's heavier curb weight of 2,142 kilograms (4,722 lbs) in FWD and 2,239 kilograms (4,936 lbs) in AWD trim. In both FWD and AWD configurations the Outlook maintains a minimum ground clearance of 189 mm (7.4 in). Clearly this vehicle is not intended for serious off-roading, but in return it provides lower step-in height than typical SUVs.
